Ellen Wikenius, doctoral research fellow and specialty registrar in child psychiatry, loves to teach, but often has to spend much time explaining epigenetics before she can talk about her research.
After successfully using videos in her teaching, she took the initiative to make a 'doodle', the animated film "Epigenetics: nurture vs nature".
The film, which was first shown in early March, provides a simple, engaging introduction to the subject. Follow the link at the bottom of this article.
In brief, it is about three things, says Wikenius:
– It shows that nurturing is important, that what we do has an impact on biology, and that genes can be turned on and off.
Growing interest
The doctoral research fellow has always been interested in very young children, and has specialized in the mental health of infants and toddlers.
Now she is studying whether stress affects children in the Little in Norway study.
– I spend 40 percent of my time teaching. But in order to give lectures and tell people about my field, I often have to explain the basics of epigenetics. Few people know what it is, and it is often difficult to explain, says Wikenius.
– I've noticed that people's interest is piqued once a video is used to illustrate an explanation. After seeing doodles used in educational films a couple of times, it was clear to me that this would be a great way of explaining epigenetics, she continues.
Simplified
The video follows a pair of identical twins who grow up in different environments, which affects how their lives turn out.
– We have spent a lot of time working to explain things as simply as possible. I have to admit that it is difficult to simplify a field this much, and paint things as black and white as we have done here. The film only covers a small part of epigenetics. Because it happens in every cell all the time!
– But the simplification was important in order to reach as many people as possible, she believes.
The target group for the video is first-year medical students, doctors who did not learn much about epigenetics when they studied medicine, and other people who are interested in the field.
And it has reached them. One week after publication, the doodle has already had almost 100 000 hits on Facebook – far more than Wikenius and the faculty had expected.
Now she hopes that more people gain an interest in epigenetics.
– Epigenetics does not undermine findings that show whether genes or the environment shape us. It supports past research in both fields, she says.
Educational and fun
Dean Frode Vartdal at the Faculty of Medicine thinks that the results have exceeded all expectations.
– It's a very good, educational and fun film! The universities have a responsibility for disseminating knowledge to society, and we believe that this video is an example of that. It is also important that it reaches as many people as possible, and it has. This is why we decided to make it in English, he says.
The film is based on an idea by Wikenius. She was the project manager, with the help of Birger Sætre and Kelly Neal of the "Trist og traurig" production company. Dag Undlien was the academic consultant.